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Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is considered a potential photoactive semiconductor for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE). Although being active in producing hydrogen, it is in general suffering from severe charge recombination rate, low mobility of charge and narrow visible light response range largely, which has restricted its greater application. Existing reviews on g-C3N4 are lacking of systematic and summative view on the effects of the physical-chemical structure-activity relationship between g-C3N4 and the modification involving phosphorus (P). Many studies indicate that adding P into g-C3N4 could effectively elevate the photo-activity. Underlying reasons for the observed improved photo-activity are discussed in this review. Here, P-containing g-C3N4 photocatalysts are grouped into the categories of P elemental doping, composite with elemental P, as well as the addition of metal phosphide as cocatalysts. These P-containing g-C3N4 possess novel properties demonstrating favorable photocatalytic activities as compared with the other elemental (such as O, S, B)-based materials. Therefore, in this mini review, we summarize and discuss the advances on the P-containing g-C3N4 photocatalysts, including the preparation strategies, physicochemical properties, the application for hydrogen production as well as the related reaction mechanism. Importantly, the physical-chemical structure-activity relationship between g-C3N4 and the integrated P is revealed. Finally, an overview of the current research status and challenges on future is presented, which would be helpful in designing and developing other P-containing photocatalysts for various photocatalytic applications.

Bimetallic compounds are a kind of important catalytic materials in heterogeneous catalysis. In this work, we first employed n-butyllithium as reducing agent to synthesize Ir and IrFex (x is the Fe/Ir molar ratio and equal to 0.49, 0.90, and 2.80) nanocrystals (NCs), and then used an adsorption strategy to load them on the surface of ordered mesoporous ceria (meso-CeO2) derived from the KIT-6-templating route to obtain the 0.48 wt% Ir/meso-CeO2 (denoted as 0.48Ir/meso-CeO2) and 0.53–0.89 wt% IrFex/meso-CeO2 (denoted as 0.53IrFe0.49/meso-CeO2, 0.59IrFe0.90/meso-CeO2, and 0.89IrFe2.80/meso-CeO2) samples. Physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized by means of various techniques. It is shown that all of the samples possessed a cubic crystal phase, an ordered mesoporous architecture, and a surface area of 84–124 m2/g, in which the IrFex NCs with an average size of ca. 2 nm were highly dispersed on the meso-CeO2 surface. Among all of the samples, 0.59IrFe0.90/meso-CeO2 performed the best for acetylene combustion (T10% =155 °C, T50% =162 °C, and T90% =165 °C at space velocity = 20,000 mL/(g h)). Furthermore, 0.59IrFe0.90/meso-CeO2 showed good water- and carbon dioxide-resistant performance, and its partial deactivation due to the introduction of SO2 was reversible. The possible reaction mechanisms over Ir/meso-CeO2 or IrFex/meso-CeO2 were also discussed. We conclude that the well dispersed IrFe0.90 NCs, high adsorbed oxygen and acetylene amounts, low-temperature reducibility, and strong interaction between IrFe0.90 NCs and meso-CeO2 were responsible for the good catalytic performance of 0.59IrFe0.90/meso-CeO2.

Background Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common but intractable disease that appears to involve lipid metabolic disorders. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that high blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are closely associated with ONFH, there is limited evidence to explain the pathological role of LDL. Pathological and in vitro studies were performed to investigate the role of disordered metabolism of LDL and oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) in the femoral head in the pathology of ONFH. Methods Nineteen femoral head specimens from patients with ONFH were obtained for immunohistochemistry analysis. Murine long-bone osteocyte Y4 cells were used to study the effects of LDL/ox-LDL on cell viability, apoptosis, and metabolism process of LDL/ox-LDL in osteocytes in normoxic and hypoxic environments. Results In the pathological specimens, marked accumulation of LDL/ox-LDL was observed in osteocytes/lacunae of necrotic regions compared with healthy regions. In vitro studies showed that ox-LDL, rather than LDL, reduced the viability and enhanced apoptosis of osteocytes. Pathological sections indicated that the accumulation of ox-LDL was significantly associated with impaired blood supply. Exposure to a hypoxic environment appeared to be a key factor leading to LDL/ox-LDL accumulation by enhancing internalisation and oxidation of LDL in osteocytes. Conclusions The accumulation of LDL/ox-LDL in the necrotic region may contribute to the pathology of ONFH. These findings could provide new insights into the prevention and treatment of ONFH.

Binary composite catalyst of g-C3N4 and BiOI has been shown to have tremendous potential in visible light catalytic degradation of organic pollutant. However, the adjustment of scale and morphology of the heterojunction composite catalyst (g-C3N4/BiOI) has attracted unprecedented attention for improving the photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, a facile preparation method of Z-scheme heterojunction composite catalyst of zero-dimensional g-C3N4 growing on two-dimensional BiOI (0D/2D g-C3N4/BiOI) was proposed, which features with a self-assembled organic supramolecular as precursor intercalating into the laminar 2D BiOI to prepare a highly dispersed 0D g-C3N4 in situ growth on it. The result demonstrates that the as-prepared 0D/2D g-C3N4/BiOI is superior to non-noble metal heterojunction catalysts and comparable to some noble metal catalysts and exhibits a 22.1 times higher kinetic constant for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation than that of g-C3N4 with a degradation rate of 92.1%. Additionally, 0D/2D g-C3N4/BiOI also indicates excellent stability of cyclic photocatalysis and resistance to ionic interference. The underlying photocatalytic degradation mechanism is considered that the generated superoxide radical (·O2−) of 0D/2D g-C3N4/BiOI can intensely catalyse the refractory organic matter, including tetracycline hydrochloride, tetracycline hydrochloride, methyl orange, and p-chlorophenol. This work provides a universal approach to construct 0D/2D heterojunction composite catalyst to enhance the photocatalytic performance.

Ru-based catalysts for catalytic combustion of high-toxicity Cl-containing volatile organic compounds are inclined to produce Cl2 instead of ideal HCl due to the Deacon reaction. We herein reported that the three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) WOx-supported RuP nanocatalyst greatly improved HCl selectivity (at 400 °C, increased from 66.0% over Ru/3DOM WOx to 96.4% over RuP/3DOM WOx) and reduced chlorine-containing byproducts for 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) oxidation. P-doping enhanced the number of structural hydroxyl groups and Bronsted acid sites. The isotopic 1,2-DCE temperature-programmed desorption experiment in the presence of H218O indicated the generation of a new active oxygen species 16O18O that participated in the reaction. Generally, P-doping and H2O introduction could promote the exchange reaction between Cl and hydroxyl groups, rather than oxygen defects, and then benefit the production of HCl and reduce the generation of other chlorine species or Cl2, via the reaction processes of C2H3Cl → alcohol → aldehyde → carboxylic acids.

Transition metal oxides (MOx; M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu)-doped titania solid solution catalysts (10 wt% MOx–TiO2, denoted as 10MOx–TiO2) were prepared by the coprecipitation method. The techniques of XRD, TPR, TPD, XPS, TPSR, and in situ DRIFTS were used to characterize physicochemical properties of the materials, and their catalytic activities were evaluated for the oxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE). The introduction of MOx enhanced adsorption and activation of oxygen molecules, mobility of surface lattice oxygen, and low-temperature reducibility. The 10MOx–TiO2 catalysts showed good performance, with 10CrOx–TiO2 exhibiting the highest catalytic activity (reaction rate = 2.35 × 10−7 mol/(gcat s) and apparent activation energy (Ea) =35 kJ/mol at space velocity = 40,000 mL/(g h)) and good resistance to chlorine poisoning, The mechanism of 1,2-DCE oxidation over 10CrOx–TiO2 was also discussed based on the results of TPSR and in situ DRIFTS characterization. It is concluded that strong acidity and redox ability, high adsorbed oxygen species concentration, and strong interaction between TiO2 and CrOx were accountable for the good performance of 10CrOx–TiO2.

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) MnCo2O4-supported Co3O4 and AuPd (xAuPdz/yCo3O4/3DOM MnCo2O4; x = 0.56–1.98 wt%, z = 1.9–2.1, and y = 4.80–24.36 wt%) catalysts were prepared using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) microsphere-templating, incipient wetness impregnation, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-protected reduction methods. Physicochemical properties of the materials were characterized by means of numerous techniques, and their catalytic activities were evaluated for methane combustion. It is found that the xAuPdz/yCo3O4/3DOM MnCo2O4 samples with a surface area of 26.5–53.1 m2/g possessed a high-quality 3DOM architecture, in which the AuPd nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of 4.6–5.8 nm were highly dispersed on the surface of the macropore framework. Among all of the samples, 1.98AuPd2.1/18.20Co3O4/3DOM MnCo2O4 exhibited the highest catalytic activity: the T10%, T50%, and T90% (temperatures required for achieving methane conversions of 10, 50, and 90 %, respectively) were 262, 340, and 408 °C at a space velocity of 40,000 mL/(g h). Partial deactivation of the 1.98AuPd2.1/18.20Co3O4/3DOM MnCo2O4 sample due to introduction of water vapor or carbon dioxide was reversible. It is concluded that the good catalytic performance of 1.98AuPd2.1/18.20Co3O4/3DOM MnCo2O4 was associated with its high adsorbed oxygen species concentration, good low-temperature reducibility, and strong interaction between Co3O4 or AuPd2.1 NPs and 3DOM MnCo2O4.

SnO2 is widely used in catalysis owing to its oxygen vacancies, reducible oxygen species, and acidity. In this work, Ru nanoparticles (NPs) supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) SnO2 (xRu/3DOM SnO2, Ru loading (x) = 0.09–1.65 wt%) were fabricated via the polyvinyl alcohol-protected reduction routes, and their catalytic activities were determined for trichloroethylene (TCE) and/or toluene oxidation. It was shown that the 0.98Ru/3DOM SnO2 sample exhibited the best activity and good thermal stability, with the temperature (T90% ) and apparent activation energy at a TCE (1000 ppmv) conversion of 90% being 300 °C and 44 kJ/mol at space velocity = 40,000 mL/(g h), respectively. Trichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride , tetrachloroethylene, and trichloroacetaldehyde hydrate were the main intermediates in TCE oxidation. The high catalytic performance of 0.98Ru/3DOM SnO 2 was attributed to the presence of hydroxyl groups adsorbed at the oxygen vacancies, strong O2 adsorption ability, good low-temperature reducibility, and strong interaction between Ru NPs and 3DOM SnO2. In addition, a catalytic mechanism over xRu/3DOM SnO2 was proposed under dry and humid conditions. The introduction of H2O could block some of the reaction pathways from inhibiting the production of C2Cl4, reduce formation of some by-products (e.g., CH2Cl2, CH3COOH, and C2H2Cl2), promote removal of the chlorine species, and generate a greater amount of HCl and a smaller amount of Cl2. Furthermore, introducing toluene into the TCE stream could generate smaller amounts of organic chlorine by-products and greater amounts of inorganic chlorine products (HCl and Cl2 ). We are sure that this work can provide a guideline for the industrial application of supported Ru catalysts in the removal of Cl-containing volatile organic compounds .

Dysregulation of glucose homeostasis contributes to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Whilst exercise stimulated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important energy sensor, has been highlighted for its potential to promote insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, the underlying mechanisms for this remain largely unknown. Here we found that AMPK positively regulates the activation of Rab5, a small GTPase which is involved in regulating Glut4 translocation, in both myoblasts and skeletal muscles. We further verified that TBC1D17, identified as a potential interacting partner of Rab5 in our recent study, is a novel GTPase activating protein (GAP) of Rab5. TBC1D17-Rab5 axis regulates transport of Glut1, Glut4, and transferrin receptor. TBC1D17 interacts with Rab5 or AMPK via its TBC domain or N-terminal 1-306 region (N-Ter), respectively. Moreover, AMPK phosphorylates the Ser 168 residue of TBC1D17 which matches the predicted AMPK consensus motif. N-Ter of TBC1D17 acts as an inhibitory region by directly interacting with the TBC domain. Ser168 phosphorylation promotes intra-molecular interaction and therefore enhances the auto-inhibition of TBC1D17. Our findings reveal that TBC1D17 acts as a molecular bridge that links AMPK and Rab5 and delineate a previously unappreciated mechanism by which the activation of TBC/RabGAP is regulated.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration and uncontrolled chondrocyte apoptosis. At present, accumulating evidence introduces that circular RNA (circRNA) is involved in the development of OA. The aim of our study was to explore the role and the functional mechanism of circ_0020093 in OA cell model. Human chondrocytes were treated with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) to construct OA model. The expression of circ_0020093, miR-23b, and Sprouty 1 (SPRY1) mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry assay. The expression of extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated markers and SPRY1 protein level was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Bioinformatics analysis-predicted relationship between miR-23b and circ_0020093 or SPRY1 was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. In this study, we found that the expression of circ_0020093 and SPRY1 was declined, while miR-23b expression was elevated in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes. IL-1β induced chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation, while these negative effects were alleviated by circ_0020093 overexpression or miR-23b inhibition. MiR-23b was a target of circ_0020093, and SPRY1 was a downstream target of miR-23b. Rescue experiments showed that miR-23b enrichment reversed the role of circ_0020093 overexpression, and SPRY1 knockdown also reversed the effects of miR-23b inhibition. Importantly, circ_0020093 positively regulated SPRY1 expression by targeting miR-23b. In conclusion, circ_0020093 ameliorates IL-1β-induced apoptosis and ECM degradation of human chondrocytes by regulating the miR-23b/SPRY1 axis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11010-021-04186-2.

Two new azaphilone pigments, talaralbols A and B (3 and 7), along with five known azaphilone metabolites (1, 2, and 4–6), were isolated from the culture of Talaromyces albobiverticillius associated...

BackgroundIntermittent hypoxia (IH) caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) leads to neuroinflammation. Pinocembrin has been shown to have neuroprotective effects, while the therapeutic functions under IH condition are still unknown.MethodsAn OSA model was established by CIH exposure inside custom-made chambers. C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with pinocembrin (40 mg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle (PBS containing 5% povidone; i.p.), and the changes of behavior on mice were detected by the Morris water maze test. Immunohistochemical staining, western blotting, immunofluorescence assays, and immunoprecipitation were used to investigate the association between NLRP3 inflammasome and BNIP3-dependent mitophagy. The mitochondrial morphology and mitophagosomes were detected under a transmission electron microscope. The detrimental effects of IH were tested by annexin V-FITC/PI staining, Mito SOX Red staining, and JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential assay.ResultsIn this study, our observations in vivo indicated that the administration of pinocembrin can restore spatial learning and memory ability and reduce neuronal apoptosis and hippocampal inflammation. Pinocembrin treatment significantly inhibited the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome and infiltration of microglia and enhanced BNIP3-mediated mitophagy in the hippocampus of IH mice. Additionally, our in vitro results show that pinocembrin protects microglial cells against IH-induced cytotoxicity by activating BNIP3-dependent mitophagy through the JNK-ERK signaling pathway.ConclusionsIn summary, our findings demonstrated that pinocembrin can act as a potential therapeutic strategy for IH-induced neuroinflammation.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), methane, carbon monoxide, soot, automotive exhaust, and nitrogen oxides are harmful to the atmosphere and human health. It is urgent to strictly control their emissions. Heterogeneous catalysis is an effective pathway for the removal of these pollutants, and the critical issue is the development of novel and high-performance catalysts. In this review, we briefly summarize the preparation methods, physicochemical properties, catalytic activities, and related reaction mechanisms for the above pollutants removal of the rare earth oxides, mixed rare earth oxide, rare earth oxide-supported noble metal, and mixed rare earth oxide-supported noble metal catalysts that have been investigated by our group and other researchers. It was found that catalytic performance was associated with the factors, such as specific surface area, pore structure, particle size and dispersion, adsorbed oxygen species concentration, reducibility, reactant activation ability or interaction between metal nanoparticles and support. Furthermore, we also envision the development trend of such a topic in future work.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a new light source with low energy consumption and high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and they can satisfy the energy-saving needs of plant culture systems. However, the effects of LED light sources on rice tissue culture and rice seedling cultivation are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LEDs on the growth of tissue culture plantlets and seedlings of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Nipponbare. The best light source for rice tissue culture was different from that for rice seedling cultivation. Blue (B) LED light was the most appropriate light for rice tissue culture. Under a B LED light, the time required for callus proliferation, differentiation and regeneration was the shortest, and the frequency of plantlet initiation, differentiation and regeneration was the highest. A blue:red (B:R)=1:1 LED light facilitated the growth of rice seedlings and produced the highest chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and photosynthetic rates in the rice seedlings. Abundant photosynthetic products were more effectively generated in the rice seedlings under the B:R=1:1 LED and R LED lights than under the B LED light. B LED light is the most appropriate light for rice tissue culture plantlets and can be used as an alternative light source for rice tissue culture, and B:R=1:1 LED light facilitated the cultivation of robust rice seedlings and can be used as the primary light source for rice factory seedling cultivation.

We successfully prepared 1.98 wt% PtRu nanoparticles (NPs) partially embedded in the skeleton of three-dimensionally ordered macroporous Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 (denoted as 1.98PtRu@3DOM CZO) using the polymethyl methacrylate-templating and ethylene glycol reduction methods. For comparison purposes, we also synthesized a 3DOM CZO-supported 2.03 wt% PtRu catalyst (denoted as 2.03PtRu/3DOM CZO) via a colloidal adsorption route. The 1.98PtRu@3DOM CZO sample exhibited better performance than the Pt or Ru NPs partially embedded in the skeleton of 3DOM CZO. Ru played an important role in promoting the low-temperature reducibility and oxygen adsorption ability of the sample. The catalytic activity of 2.03PtRu/3DOM CZO was better than that of 1.98PtRu@3DOM CZO (ΔT90% = 23 °C) for toluene combustion, and the former showed lower apparent activation energy (45 kJ/mol). However, 1.98PtRu@3DOM CZO possessed excellent thermal stability, over which the activity did not change obviously, while that over 2.03PtRu/3DOM CZO decreased greatly; furthermore, the catalytic activity of the former was superior to that of the latter after calcination at 800 °C for 5 h. After high-temperature treatment, the average particle size of PtRu NPs in 1.98PtRu@3DOM CZO increased slightly from 4.2 to 6.7 nm, whereas that of PtRu NPs in 2.03PtRu/3DOM CZO increased significantly from 5.1 to 17.3 nm. It is concluded that the good performance of 1.98PtRu@3DOM CZO is associated with its highly dispersed partially embedded PtRu NPs and good toluene and oxygen adsorption ability, since the embedded structure facilitated formation of a larger amount of Pt O Ce-like bonds that possessed strong interaction between PtRu NPs and 3DOM CZO and hence contributed to its better thermal stability.

Mismatched deformation in a bilayer composite with rigid coating on a soft substrate results in complex and uniform topographic patterns, yet it remains challenging to heterogeneously pattern the upper coatings with various localized structures. Herein, a heterogeneous, 3D microstructure composed of Ti3C2Tx titanium carbide (MXene) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was fabricated using a one-step deformation of a thermally responsive substrate with designed open holes. The mechanically deformed SWNT-MXene (s-MXene) structure was next transferred onto an elastomeric substrate, and the resulting s-MXene/elastomer bilayer device exhibited three localized surface patterns, including isotropic crumples, periodic wrinkles, and large papillae-like microstructures. By adjusting the number and pattern, the s-MXene papillae arrays exhibited superhydrophobicity (>170°), strong and tunable adhesive force (52.3-110.6 μN), and ultra-large liquid capacity (up to 35 μL) for programmable microdroplet manipulation. The electrically conductive nature of s-MXene further enabled proper thermal management on microdroplets via Joule heating for miniaturized antibacterial tests. The s-MXene papillae were further fabricated in a piezoresistive pressure sensor with high sensitivity (11.47 kPa-1). The output current changes of s-MXene sensors were highly sensitive to voice vibrations and responded identically with prerecorded profiles, promising their application in accurate voice acquisition and recognition.

Hydrazine detection is of great significance in the fields of chemical industry, environment, life, health, and so on. A novel photoacoustic probe is designed and synthesized for hydrazine detection, using cyanine with strong near-infrared absorbance as the core. The probe has strong photoacoustic signal at 808 nm. When the probe molecules interact with the hydrazine, the absorbance intensities of probe at 808 nm and 550 nm decrease and increase with the increase of hydrazine concentration, respectively. The optical density ratio of D (808)/ D (550) in the range of 0-5 μmol/L hydrazine concentration has a good linear relationship with the change of concentration. Meanwhile, photoacoustic intensity of probe at 808 nm P (808) gradually decreases with the increase of hydrazine concentration, and shows a good linear relationship in the range of 0-10 μmol/L, with a detection limit of 0.50 μmol/L. The probe is easy to synthesis and can achieve photoacoustic detection of hydrazine rapidly and efficiently, which provids a new solution for the development of in vivo detection of hydrazine.

Ruthenium-based materials are promising catalysts for the removal of chlorine-containing volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) due to their good ability in cleaving the C–Cl bonds and decreasing the Cl deposition. However, the roles of noble bimetals alloyed with Ru have not been clarified clearly. In this work, the bimetallic RuyM (M = Au, Pd or Pt) alloys supported on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) CeO2 (xRuyM/3DOM CeO2; RuyM loading (x) = 0.90–0.93 wt%, and Ru/M molar ratio (y) = 2.77–2.87) were fabricated by the polymer microbead-templating and polyvinyl alcohol-protected reduction methods, and their physicochemical properties were well measured using a number of techniques. Oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) was used to evaluate catalytic performance of the as-obtained samples with a good-quality 3DOM structure and a surface area of 39–44 m2 g−1. The Ru, Pd, and RuyM nanoparticles (NPs) with an average size of 2.9–3.5 nm were uniformly dispersed on the skeleton surface of 3DOM CeO2. The 0.93Ru2.87Pd/3DOM CeO2 sample showed the highest catalytic activity and the lowest apparent activation energy (34 kJ mol−1), with the temperatures (T50% and T90%) at TCE conversions of 50 and 90% being 237 and 298 °C at a space velocity of 20 000 mL g−1 h−1, respectively. Simultaneously, 0.93Ru2.87Pd/3DOM CeO2 exhibited the highest TCE oxidation rate (30.3 μmol gNoblemetal−1 s−1) and the highest TOFNoblemetal (3.1 × 10−3 s−1) at 250 °C. The 0.93Ru2.87Pd/3DOM CeO2 sample also possessed a better hydrothermal stability than the 0.85Ru/3DOM CeO2 sample after hydrothermal ageing treatment at 750 °C. Effects of H2O, CO2, and HCl on catalytic activity of 0.93Ru2.87Pd/3DOM CeO2 were also examined. The presence of Ru in the samples was favorable for generation of HCl and Cl2 and reduction of the by-products in TCE oxidation, and tetrachloroethylene was the main by-product. The possible catalytic mechanism over 0.93Ru2.87Pd/3DOM CeO2 was also proposed. The outstanding catalytic efficiency of 0.93Ru2.87Pd/3DOM CeO2 could be assigned to the high adsorbed oxygen species, good low-temperature reducibility, strong TCE adsorption and activation ability, and formation of the intimate nanointerface between RuPd NPs and 3DOM CeO2. This work provides a practical guideline for rationally designing the efficient bimetallic catalysts for CVOCs removal under the industrial conditions.

Initiation of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling involves the activation of the tyrosine kinase LCK; however, it is currently unclear how LCK is recruited and activated. Here, we have identified the membrane protein CD146 as an essential member of the TCR network for LCK activation. CD146 deficiency in T cells substantially impaired thymocyte development and peripheral activation, both of which depend on TCR signaling. CD146 was found to directly interact with the SH3 domain of coreceptor-free LCK via its cytoplasmic domain. Interestingly, we found CD146 to be present in both monomeric and dimeric forms in T cells, with the dimerized form increasing after TCR ligation. Increased dimerized CD146 recruited LCK and promoted LCK autophosphorylation. In tumor models, CD146 deficiency dramatically impaired the antitumor response of T cells. Together, our data reveal an LCK activation mechanism for TCR initiation. We also underscore a rational intervention based on CD146 for tumor immunotherapy.

Hypoxic tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are related to poor prognosis of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Exosomes are small lipid-bilayer vesicles that implicated in tumor progression and metastasis. However, whether hypoxic TAM-derived exosomes affect RCC progression within the hypoxic tumor microenvironment has not been elucidated. GSE analysis identified miR-155-5p was upregulated in RCC. Moreover, we quantified levels of miR-155-5p using RT-qPCR, performed immunohistochemical staining in 79 pairs of primary RCC specimens and related them to clinicopathological parameters. Higher miR-155-5p levels were related to more CD163 + TAM infiltration and elevated HIF-1a expression in our cohort. In the in vitro studies, we initially purified and characterized the exosomes from the supernatant of TAMs subjected to normoxia or hypoxia, and then transfected antagomiR-155-5p or control into these TAMs to produce corresponding exosomes. Gain and loss-of-function studies further investigated the effect of transferred hypoxic exosomal miR-155-5p on the cross-talk between TAMs and RCC cells in xenograft model and in vitro co-culture experiments. The results of RNA immunoprecipitation analyses elucidated that miR-155-5p could directly interact with human antigen R (HuR), thus increasing IGF1R mRNA stability. Mechanistically, hypoxic TAM-Exo transferred miR-155-5p promoted RCC progression partially through activating IGF1R/PI3K/AKT cascades. Taken together, transfer of miR-155-5p from hypoxic TAMs by exosomes to renal cancer cells explains the oncogenic manner, in which M2 macrophages confer the malignant phenotype to RCC cells by enhancing HuR-mediated mRNA stability of IGF1R.

Background Phthalates, which are used as excipients of drugs, have been related to adverse reproductive outcomes. However, the relationships between medication use and phthalate exposure among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) have not been studied. Objective To investigate the associations between the medication intake and phthalate metabolites in urine and follicular fluid (FF). Method Eight phthalate metabolites were measured in urine and FF samples from 274 women undergoing IVF using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Information on recent medication intake was obtained via interview by trained staff. We constructed generalized linear regression models to examine the associations of medication intake with phthalate metabolite concentrations and dose-response relationships between the number of medicines used and metabolite concentrations in two matrices. Results Four of 10 drugs were used by more than 10% of the participants, including vitamins (23.0%), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM, 22.3%), antioxidants (12.4%) and amoxicillin (10.2%). Participants who had used TCM had 26.0% (95% CI: 0.0, 58.8%), 32.6% (95% CI: 4.2, 68.8%) and 32.3% (95% CI: 2.6, 70.6%) higher urinary mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) concentrations, respectively, than those who had not. Antioxidant intake was associated with a 30.6% (95% CI: −48.5, −6.6%) decrease in the urinary MBP concentration. Compared with non-users, women who reported the use of medicines had 53.2% (95% CI: 2.7, 128.5%) higher concentrations of MMP and a 37.7% (95% CI: −60.7, −1.5%) lower level of MBP in FF, respectively. Conclusion Our data suggest that the intake of some medications may increase phthalate exposure among women undergoing IVF.

Background Excretory/secretory products (ESPs) released by parasites influence the development and functions of host dendritic cells (DCs). However, little is known about changes of DNA (hydroxy)methylation on DC development during Fasciola gigantica infection. The present study aimed to investigate whether F. gigantica ESPs (FgESPs) affects the development and functions of buffalo DCs through altering the DNA (hydroxy)methylation of DCs. Methods Buffalo DCs were prepared from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) and quantitative reverse transcriptional PCR (qRT-RCR). DCs were treated with 200 μg/ml of FgESPs in vitro, following DNA extraction. The DNA methylome and hydroxymethylome were profiled based on (hydroxy)methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing [(h)MeDIP-Seq] and bioinformatics analyses. qRT-RCR was also performed to assess the gene transcription levels of interest. Results FgESPs markedly suppressed DC maturation evidenced by morphological changes and downregulated gene expression of CD1a and MHC II. Totals of 5432 and 360 genes with significant changes in the 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) and the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) levels, respectively, were identified in buffalo DCs in response to FgESPs challenge. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes were highly enriched in pathways associated with immune response. Some cancer-related pathways were also indicated. There were 111 genes demonstrating changes in both 5-mC and 5-hmC levels, 12 of which were interconnected and enriched in 12 pathways. The transcription of hypermethylated genes TLR2, TLR4 and IL-12B were downregulated or in a decreasing trend, while the mRNA level of high-hydroxymethylated TNF gene was upregulated in buffalo DCs post-exposure to FgESPs in vitro. Conclusions To our knowledge, the present study provides for the first time a unique genome-wide profile of DNA (hydroxy)methylation for DCs that interact with FgESPs, and suggests a possible mechanism of FgESPs in suppressing DC maturation and functions that are involved in TLR signaling. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3615-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The existence of the organic component (MA) in MAPbBr3 guarantees its cubic crystal lattice stabilities to satisfy the tolerance factor but increases the chemical instability risk when encountering moisture, oxidation, and heat. Mixed cations, particularly when using cesium cation (Cs+), prove to be an effective way of improving both stability and optoelectronic performances of hybrid perovskite films applied in solar cells. However, the intrinsic effect of Cs+ on the crystal structure, lattice defects, and optoelectronic properties of MAPbBr3 is still unclear till now because grain boundary numbers and interface defect densities in films increase complexity; so, it is not easy to explore the intrinsic nature of how Cs+ affects the optoelectronic properties of MAPbBr3. Single crystals (SCs) of MAPbBr3 provide an ideal medium to investigate the influence of Cs+ on the crystal structure and optoelectronic performances. Herein, we grew a series of MA1–xCsxPbBr3 SCs. This reveals that Cs+ inhibits the growth ...

A method for the synthesis of aryl trifluoroethyl ethers from fluoroalcohols and diaryliodonium salts in the presence of NaH and warm 1,2-dichloroethane has been developed. This transition metal free reaction is mild and facile. Various functional group including electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substrates in the diaryliodonium salts were tolerated in this transformation to afford the products in moderate to high yields.

Due to the high density of surface states introduced in the nanorods growth process and subsequent exposure to air, electrons will be trapped in these states and recombine with photo-generated holes, which leads to a high loss of photo-generated carriers and creates a large onset potential for carrier transport. Here, we report a simple and low-cost surface treatment method, which utilizes H3PO4 to passivate surface states in the as-grown InGaN nanorods. Using optimized surface passivation condition, surface trapping states in as-grown InGaN nanorods can be removed by eliminating surface Indium aggregation, reducing the surface oxides, and saturating the dangling bonds. Hence, carrier recombination mediated by these surface states is weakened, as well as applied bias potential required for carrier transport is lowered. The optimized H3PO4-treated nanorods photoanode shows a larger photovoltage and a smaller charge transfer resistance to the electrolyte. Resultantly, a significant negative shift of onset potential from 0.7 to 0.3 V vs. RHE for the treated photoanode is achieved. Moreover, the optimized H3PO4-treated photoanode exhibits a high photocurrent density of 18 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE and a maximum applied bias photon-to-current efficiency value of 1.09%, whereas as-grown InGaN photoanode reaches only 0.64%.

The low-velocity impact response of sandwich beams with aluminum alloy face-sheets and three core configurations (i.e., the positive layered-gradient core, negative layered-gradient core and non-gradient monolithic core) was first investigated by using a drop-weight machine. The impact bending tests were performed on specimens at five impact energy levels – 9.80 J, 22.05 J, 39.19 J, 61.24 J and 88.18 J – by varying the drop height of the weight. Based on experimental results, the corresponding numerical simulations and a multi-objective design optimization were performed. The experimental results show that all sandwich beams fail via the global bending deformation without local crack/fracture under lower initial impact energy, while they fail via larger bending deformation accompanied by obvious core tensile crack at mid-span and core shear at clamped ends with the increased initial impact energy. The resistance of both gradient core sandwich beams to impact flexure loading is weaker than that of non-gradient monolithic core sandwich beams. Simulation results indicate that the ratio of energy absorbed by core decreases with the increased impact energy, while the ratio of energy absorbed by face-sheets increases with the increased impact energy. The boundary condition is demonstrated to have great influence on the force-displacement response for all sandwich beams. Finally, the corresponding Pareto fronts representing a group of best trade-off designs were obtained.

International audience; Silicone rubbers are promising materials that have extensively been used in many areas, including wearable electronic devices, actuator materials in soft robotics, and energy harvesters. Ecoflex, a commercially available polymer, is a group of silicone rubbers appearing with various Shore hardnesses that has become popular in recent years. While silicone rubbers in their real applications are subjected to repeated loadingunloading conditions, their mechanical behaviour under cyclic loading in different deformation modes and the corresponding stress recovery behaviour are yet to be well investigated. In this contribution, we conduct loading-unloading cyclic experiments in different time gaps between the first cycle and the second cycle to demonstrate the stress recovery behaviour after stress softening happens during the first cycle. For that, three different modes of deformations, i.e., uniaxial tension, planar tension, and equibiaxial tension tests are selected. Besides, Shore hardness dependence with different strain levels is also taken into consideration. The results show that the stress softening could recover significantly with time. These findings will help to understand the mechanical behaviour of Ecoflex silicone rubbers before selecting them in practical applications that are exposed to repeated loading-unloading cycles.

Dual activation of the glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) has the potential to lead to an effective therapy for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. Here, we report the discovery of a series of peptides with dual activity on GLP-1R and GCGR that were discovered by rational design. Structural elements of oxyntomodulin (OXM), glucagon or exendin-4 were engineered into the selective GLP-1R agonist Xenopus GLP-1 (xGLP-1) on the basis of sequence analysis, resulting in hybrid peptides with potent dual activity at GLP-1R and GCGR. Further modifications with fatty acid resulted in a novel metabolically stable peptide (xGLP/GCG-15) with enhanced and balanced GLP-1R and GCGR activations. This lead peptide was further explored pharmacologically in both db/db and diet-induced obesity (DIO) rodent models. Chronic administration of xGLP/GCG-15 significantly induced hypoglycemic effects and body weight loss, improved glucose tolerance, and normalized lipid metabolism, adiposity, and liver steatosis in relevant rodent models. These preclinical studies suggest that xGLP/GCG-15 has potential for development as a novel anti-obesity and/or anti-diabetic candidate. Considering the equal effects of xGLP/GCG-15 and the clinical candidate MEDI0382 on reverse hepatic steatosis, it may also be explored as a new therapy for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the future.

Os4BGlu14, a monolignol β-glucosidase, plays a negative role in seed longevity by affecting primary metabolism during seed development and aging. Seed longevity is a crucial trait in agriculture and in the conservation of germplasm resources. β-Glucosidases (BGlus) are multifunctional enzymes that affect plant growth and their adaptation to the environment. The function of rice BGlus in seed longevity, however, remains unknown. We report here that Os4BGlu14, a rice β-Glucosidase, negatively affected seed longevity during accelerated aging. Os4BGlu14 was highly expressed in rice embryos and induced by accelerated aging. Compared to the wild type, rice lines overexpressing Os4BGlu14 had significantly greater grain length, but smaller grain width and thickness. Overexpressing (OE) lines also showed lower starch but higher glucose contents. After accelerated aging treatment, OE lines displayed a significantly lower germination percentage than the wild type. Additionally, these lines had higher lignin accumulation before and after accelerated aging. Metabolome analysis detected 217 metabolites in untreated and aged rice seeds. Comparison of the differential metabolites between WT and OE5 revealed that ten key metabolites, four of which (e.g., uridine 5′-diphosphoglucose-glucose, UDPG) were increased, while the other six (e.g., γ-aminobutyric acid and methionine) were decreased, might be the crucial factors that lead to seed deterioration. Further analysis confirmed higher UDPG levels and more severe programmed cell death in OE lines than in the wild type. Furthermore, OE lines presented a lower germination rate after abscisic acid and paclobutrazol treatment during germination, compared to the wild type. Our study provides a basis for understanding the function of Os4BGlu14 in seed longevity in rice.

Glucocorticoids are widely used in clinical practice, but are associated with potentially severe side effects like glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) and glucocorticoid-associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GA-ONFH). Glucocorticoid-induced osteocyte apoptosis plays critical roles in the pathological processes of both GIOP and GA-ONFH. Pinocembrin is a natural flavonoid that may exert protective effects on osteocytes. The present study investigated the effects of pinocembrin on glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis of murine long bone osteocyte Y4 (MLO-Y4) cells and sought to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. We found that pinocembrin attenuated glucocorticoid-induced cell viability injury and apoptosis of MLO-Y4 cells. Moreover, pinocembrin increased Beclin-1 and LC3B-II level, but decreased p62 expression, suggesting that pinocembrin activates autophagy in glucocorticoid-treated MLO-Y4 cells. The protective effects of pinocembrin on glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis of MLO-Y4 cells were mimicked by a known stimulator of autophagy but prevented by a known inhibitor of autophagy. Pinocembrin also suppressed the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which regulates cell autophagy, in glucocorticoid-treated MLO-Y4 cells. In conclusion, the results indicate that pinocembrin alleviates glucocorticoid-induced osteocyte apoptosis by activating autophagy via suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Pinocembrin may represent a potential natural agent for preventing and treating GIOP and GA-ONFH.

The effect of fermentation with Lactobacillus casei on selected parameters of quinoa seeds (QS) was studied. The protein, free amino acids, carbohydrate, ash, thiamin (B1) and riboflavin (B2) of fermented quinoa seeds (FQS) were significantly (p

We report a new strategy to fabricate a core-shell TiO2@g-C3N4 composite for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The heterojunction structure is prepared by chemically wrapping exfoliated thin layer g-C3N4 nanosheets on the surface of anatase TiO2 particles. The TiO2@g-C3N4 sample demonstrates high visible-light photoactivity towards water splitting, resulting in an increase in photocurrent density by a factor of 2.5 times compared to the bare TiO2. This is ascribed to the inhibition of electron-hole pair recombination due to the synergistic effect between TiO2 and g-C3N4, which enhances the charge transfer and separation. The prolonged lifetime of the charges is confirmed by using the transient absorption spectroscopic measurements.